Flexible endoscopy was used to assess the intragastric residue after either ipecacuanha-induced emesis or gastric lavage in 30 self-poisoned patients.
Of the 13 patients treated by induced-emesis, five (38.5%) had residual solid in the stomach; 17 patients were treated by gastric washout, and 15 (88.2%) of these had residual intragastric solid.
The study provides direct evidence that the gastric decontaminating procedures employed, and especially gastric lavage, do not remove stomach contents completely.
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